Kerala Onam Bonus: Kerala government has announced a cash bonus grant of Rs 4,000 to its employees ahead of Onam festival. K N Balagopal announced the special festival allowance for the employees, as per TOI report. Onam is set to be celebrated across the state between Friday, September 06 and Sunday, September 15. The festival is linked to a harvest festival and is the time when the rice crops are harvested.
Who are eligible for bonus and special cash allowances?
According a report by Times of India, government teachers and employees will receive a bonus of Rs 4,000 each. Balagopan said that those who are not eligible for bonus will be given a special festival allowance of Rs 2,750. Moreover, service pensioners will also receive a special festival allowance of Rs 1000 each and retire employees under contributory pension scheme too will receive a special festival allowance.
All state government employees will receive an Onam advance of Rs 20,000, according to Balagopal. The remaining employees, which includes contingent and part-time workers, will get an advance of Rs 6,000. Workers under contracts and programs who were awarded a festival allowance the previous year will be paid at the same rate this year. He also mentioned that the special Onam assistance will benefit over 13 lakh employees.
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Cash reward despite financial crunch
As per TOI report, Kerala government has given the approval to not reduce any Onam benefits including bonus and special allowance despite financial difficulties caused by Centre’s policies. The finance minister said all benefits provided last year will be available this year too.
The distribution of bonus and cash reward to beneficiaries will begin from Wednesday, said the minister. He added that government has made priority to pensioners by offering early pensions for Onam. Social security and welfare fund pension beneficiaries will receive two instalments, he added.
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Balagopan informed that Rs 1,700 crore has been allocated for this purpose. Nearly 62 lakh people will receive Rs 3,200 each for Onam, he added.
The amount is expected to be credited in the beneficiary’s bank account. The total number of beneficiaries are over 26 lakh. Due to financial constraints, welfare pension arrears will be distributed this year and next year, as clarified by the chief minister in the legislative assembly, said Balagopal.
As per TOI report, only 2% fund comes from Centre in Kerala state’s treasury with 98% being generated in the state itself.
